5 Phenomenal Coming-of-Age Films for Teen Girls

Plan on bonding over a movie with your teen girl? Before you stream Mean Girls for the 524th time, consider a break from your typical chick flick. After all, isn’t there more to life than nabbing the cute boy and impressing the cool clique?

These 5 films are beautiful, empowering, and will teach your young lady life lessons beyond high school drama. These movies about rising above bad situations, dealing with weaknesses, and following your dreams will surely leave a lasting impression on your daughter. It’s a wonderful way to connect, without having to open up an awkward conversation. (Teens… )

What are you waiting for? Whip up some face masks, bust out the non-toxic nail polishes, and have a memorable girls-night-in that’s bound to be a hit:

Girlfight

2000, Rated R (language and boxing violence)

Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) is an at-risk teen living in Brooklyn – she’s about to be expelled from school for fighting, the popular girls ostracize her, she’s dealing with the death of her mother, and her father is cold at best. Diana’s only real ally is younger brother, who boxes at a local gym. While he doesn’t like the sport much, Diana dives in and finds her true calling. This is a good movie exploring gender bias, and how to turn weaknesses into strengths.

Fish Tank

2011, Rated R (language and sexual situations)
 

Hip-hopping Mia (Katie Jarvis) is a volatile teenager on the verge of being kicked out of class. She’s a loner, a boozer, and a dancer.  Her alcoholic tart of a mother, Joanne, lets Mia and her younger sister (Rebecca Griffiths) run wild. And an inappropriate attraction between Connor (Michael Fassbender), Joanne’s new boyfriend and Mia ensues. Connor encourages Mia’s dance pursuits, although he breaks her heart. Gritty and provocative, this film has few highs but does show that it’s still possible to rise above a bad situation – no matter how hopeless it may seem.

Winter’s Bone

2010, Rated R (language, violence, and drug use)

Ree Dolly  (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 17-year-old girl living in grim poverty in the Ozarks. She’s forced to raise her younger brother and sister, and take care of her mentally ill mom, while her druggie father (Garrett Dillahunt) does prison time. He’s released on parole, but doesn’t stick around for long before disappearing into proverbial thin air. Ree soon discovers bad Dad has put their house up for his bail bond which will mean eviction if he does not show up to court. She’s forced to find him (in a world of violent meth-head murders), even if it means breaking the hillbilly code to bring him to justice. This is a good movie for showing that will and determination can overcome even the most obstinate obstacles.

We Are the Best!

2013, Not Rated (language, alcohol use)

Set in Stockholm in the early 80’s, We Are The Best! follows 13-year-old Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and Klara (Mira Grosin), androgynous outcasts who love punk music and form a band as a way of thumbing their noses at the establishment… despite the fact they don’t know how to play instruments or write songs. They enlist a music-minded Christian girl named Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) from their school to help them learn chords and sing. The three girls form an unlikely trio and create a beautiful band (and bond). This movie is good for inspiring girls to follow their dreams and to show that being an outsider doesn’t mean you can’t create your own inside fulfillment.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

2005, PG (thematic elements)
 

Four BFFs start to find life tearing them apart as they grow up and branch out one fateful summer. Bridget (Blake Lively) is sent to a camp in Mexico, where she falls in love. Lena (Alexis Bledel) goes to visit her family in Greece. Carmen (America Ferrera) spends her vacation with her father in South Carolina, and discovers a shocking secret. Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) stays home to film a movie. What ties them all together is a pair of magical jeans that fits them all perfectly, in spite of their different shapes and sizes… that, and the everyday magic of true friendship. This is good movie to show that empathy and understanding is important to maintaining lasting relationships, even through life’s most difficult curveballs.

Will you be watching any of these movies with your teen girl? Got any films you’d like to recommend? Share with us!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.